NWF State star commits to Louisville

The recruiting process for the nation’s top junior college basketball prospect has ended.

BRANDON WALKER / Daily News

NICEVILLE - The recruiting process for the nation’s top junior college basketball prospect has ended.

On Sunday night, Northwest Florida State College sophomore Chris Jones returned from an official visit at the University of Lou-isville, where head coach Rick Pitino gave his pitch to the high-scoring guard. Not even 12 hours later, Jones ended his recruitment and gave his commitment to the Cardinals.

“Coach Pitino just stood out above all the rest,” said Jones, who held offers from over 30 universities throughout the country. “Not many players can say they have a chance to play for a hall of fame coach, and I love the way he pushes his basketball team.”

Widely considered to be one of the nation’s top JUCO talents, Jones averaged 18 points, four rebounds and four assists in leading NWF State to a 32-2 mark and national runner-up finish in 2011-12. In the end, Jones chose Louisville over Baylor, Kansas, Okla-homa State and Florida State.

The 5-foot-11 guard exploded onto the scene last season on his way to being named the Panhandle Conference Player of the Year and the NJCAA Region VIII Tournament MVP. He also earned First Team All-State and First Team All-America honors.

This was Jones’ second go-around with the recruiting process. As a senior at Memphis (Tenn.) Melrose in 2010, Jones signed with the University of Tennessee after being recruited by then-UT assistant coach Steve Forbes. When Jones failed to qualify aca-demically and Forbes became the new head coach at NWF State, the high-scoring guard followed Forbes to Niceville, and the two have transformed the Raider program into a national power. For Forbes, seeing Jones mature from high school senior to a pol-ished, explosive JUCO star has been rewarding.

“I am ecstatic for Chris,” said Forbes. “I’ve known this guy since he was in the 8th grade, and I know what kind of competitor and person he is. And to see him get the opportunity to play at a program like Louisville, it says a lot about Chris.”

“He’s very deserving of all of the attention he has received because he’s worked extremely hard for this opportunity and is a phenomenal player. Chris will be a terrific fit at Louisville because he’s a fierce competitor that loves to win. He’s won a state high school championship, led us to the NJCAA National Title game last season, and now has a chance at Louisville to compete for an NCAA Championship.”

Jones, now entering his second season as a leader for the Raiders, will join a Louisville program that’s been to two Final Fours under Pitino. The Cardinals are heading into the 2012 season ranked in the top 5 nationally, and Pitino’s Louisville teams have a history of leaning on tough, high-scoring guards. That’s where Jones comes in.

“I think I can fit in perfectly,” said Jones. “I see the way Coach Pitino pushes his players and gets the best out of them…I am a competitor, and he is, too. I hope we can join together and win a national championship.”